A warm welcome to our next featured author on the 2016 GRL blog tour, Nicole Dennis!
Nicole talks about connection and she also brought along a giveaway.
Welcome Nicole 🙂
Keeping Connected
Nicole Dennis
When trying to write a somewhat cohesive series, especially one set in a small town, I try to maintain the presence of previous characters in the current book. They may appear as a background character someone passes or have full interaction within the plot.
By the sixth book of Southern Charm, the newest one released August 30, I introduced six couples to the town of Shore Breeze, hinted at new characters, and introduced a variety of peripheral background characters. Most of the background folks don’t have more than a name and general coloring issue or body type. They’re there to serve a purpose, fill a spot in everyday interaction.
With each new book, I don’t want to lose my reader’s sense of connection or love they may have for the earlier couples. If they walk through the town in this book, they’re gonna see them again. It’s bound to happen in a small town. Why should I put them aside? A reader followed their story, hopefully fell in love with them, and want to revisit them. While each new book focuses on a new couple, romance and experiences, I make sure the rest of the gang visits.
In the sixth book, it’s no different. All of the previous couples and more make multiple appearances. They help move things along, show their support to friends – new and old, and give you a sense of small town connection and closeness missing from most of the world. These guys know, care and support each other.
With such a big cast of characters and growing with every book, it’s a balancing act to make sure the previous couples don’t take over the new books. The first book is easy, you’re focusing on the first couple, but introducing a lot of the upcoming characters. Everyone is new to the reader. Each one wants to tell their story.
By the sixth, well, as a writer, I want to keep things fresh for the reader so they’re not bored reading the new couple, but still want to visit with their ‘friends’. I hope to continue doing this while adding more Southern Charm books to the series.
What does all this have to do with going to GRL? Or what you might find at GRL?
Well… GRL is its own little series and crazy cast of characters. During your first time, your eyes are wide open and constantly moving to try and take in all the details. You’re searching for people you know only on screen as a tiny icon and wham! They’re standing in front of you, offering a warm smile, a big old hug and welcoming. By the second or third trip to GRL, you’re more comfortable because you know what to expect, you’re getting back to a special niche of family, immersed in a genre and people you love and can finally share.
This is my 4th GRL visit and my first as a Featured Author. I get a chance to interact more with readers, give away tidbits of information locked in my head and share love for my books and characters. It’s a little terrifying considering I’m a quiet person, but I know I’m safe to open up and feel free when I’m at GRL. I feel different there. Like so many others around me.
Most of us don’t have the ability to sit and talk for hours with another person who reads and loves what you do during our everyday lives. These four days stand out against the rest of the calendar. You mark them with a bright Sharpie and even brighter highlighter on a wall or desk calendar, set events and notifications on your phone, and watch the countdown clock on the GRL’s website.
Months.
Weeks.
Days!
Finally, you’re there. Surrounded by friends. You’re home.
This is how I want my readers to feel with any series I write.
Welcome to GRL. See you soon and a welcoming hug is ready for you. Don’t forget to seek me out for a hug and hello.
What’s your favorite connection to a series? What do you look forward when you return to a series? Tell me about it… Every comment will be entered as a chance to win your choice of ebook from my backlist.
I was asked by author Jenn Dease: If you could spend a day with any of your couples, which would it be and why?
Oh wow, this is such a difficult question because I love all my couples. Everyone is unique and special. Of course, any author will say the same thing.
I would choose: Doc Elliott Sheffield and Jude Sebastian from When in Bloom, Southern Charm #4.
Doc Elliott was an Army Doctor on the frontlines for a couple of tours. He’s seen the best and worst of people and transferring to civilian life is hard, as for any active soldier. I would love to ask questions about what he saw, did or the transfer.
Jude struggled through life with his illness to find the right balance and force himself to not whine, complain. He found ways to cope and handle his illnesses to do the work he loves and become independent.
Both of these men are fiercely independent in their own ways, but turn to each other when they need the support.
While I revealed some of their story, I know there is more lurking behind each man and their love.
My question is for Carter Quinn: Is there a genre you haven’t written yet, but have growing plot bunnies for? Why that genre?
Thank you to everyone for reading this and following the GRL Blog Tour. I appreciate you taking a few minutes out of your day to read. Looking forward to seeing everyone at GRL!
Nicole Dennis
According to Design
Southern Charm 6
Blurb:
Amid turmoil and triumph, two men weave through all the colors of life to find one another.
As construction on the Charm wraps up, multi-media artist Wyatt McBride creates special metal and glass designs to add the finishing touches. When his brother accepts an overseas military duty, he takes in his teenage nephew, Collin. Things are already upside down since he’s lost a dear friend to AIDS, and now he has to deal with teenage angst and losing his heart to a brilliant but shy teacher.
To keep his mind out of the past, Keegan Donaghue comes to Shore Breeze to take a position as a high-school science teacher and part-time forensics detective for the sheriff’s department. A special student connects him to the local artist, but he’s still running from his past. Addiction and abuse remain there, lurking in his mind, along with mild PTSD-induced panic attacks. Cryptic, troubling emails from his ex-boyfriend don’t help the situation either.
Shy of relationships and opening their hearts to trust, these two men learn to weave their lives together during the trials of daily life. Neither one expects everything to go according to fate.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes involving PTSD, as well as the discussion of, and flashbacks to, domestic violence and drug addiction. There is a scene of assault involving homophobic slurs, a scene of violence and attempted kidnap, as well as a very brief reference to rape.
Buy Links:
Nicole Dennis
Dreamy…Sensual…Forever Love
A quiet one, Nicole Dennis curled up with the latest book of a favorite author. Since the beginning, there were these characters in her head, worlds wanting to be built on paper, and stories wanting to be told. She began writing during class and continues to this day. Now she can let others into her imagination and worlds that always celebrate the love between two or more people within LGBT, paranormal, and fantasy.
During the day, she works in a quiet office in Central Florida, where she also makes her home, and enjoys the down time to slip into her imagination. She is owned by a semi-demonic tortie calico, affectionately known as Fat Cat.
Contact & Media Info:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicoleDennis.Author
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NicoleDennis.Musings/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nicoledennis.author/
Blog: http://nicoledennisauthor.blogspot.com
Website: http://nicoledennisauthor.com
Email: nicoledennis.author@gmail.com
Twitter: @NDennis_Author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ndennis_author/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nicoledennisaut/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/nicoledennisauthor
GoodreadsQ&A with Nicole Dennis: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/50397-q-a-with-nicole-dennis
Goodreads Profile: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2791975.Nicole_Dennis
Nicole kindly brought with her a backlist copy for one Lucky winner!
Sounds like an emotional story. I am adding to my list.
It depends on the series. Sometimes I love the characters and want to continue reading about the foerever. And sometimes I’m just enamoured of the world created there. That happens mostly with Steampunk or Paranormal series
Both guys sound very sympathetic!
In a series, I love seeing glimpses of the characters from the earlier books while learning and wtching the new characters work towards their own resolutions or HEA.
I love seeing how the people involved in a series progress through whatever life throws at them
Sounds like a wonderful story.
One thing I like about series is that the characters become like friends. So each time a new book is read, it’s like meeting new friends & visiting old ones.
This sounds like it will be a very good story.